Interesting Situation

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE=tarheelcoach;672581]

Baseball 'Gimmick' Play

Here is my MAIN problem with the article

The only way to make sure you get that call right is to get another official,'' Buie said. "We have to have three officials to get that call correct.''

IMO, the aforementioned is a cop-out answer.

This was bad mechanics on the part of this umpiring crew.

We had a sqeeze play and a throw to first base.

If the PU is on 1BLX where he should be, he can watch R3 touch the plate and also watch R2 touch third base.

If the throw did come to the plate, then the BU can take a quick glance to see that the BR touched first base and then pick up R2 going to third base.

Yes 3 person helps, but if the umpires were doing their job the team could not "cheat"

How this most likely came about

Trust asure coaches DO WATCH umpires. Perhaps in a previous game or previous years, etc. this coach noticed that this umpiring crew did not WATCH the runners touch the bases. He might have appealed an opposing player missing a base in which he KNEW the base was missed but the umpires signalled safe meaning they were NOT watching the touches, hence he "stored it in his memory banks"

Hey I kicked calls before and also blown my mechanic BUT I admitted it. No sense blaming it on someone else for my mistake. That is part of umpiring. We are NOT perfect and we "live and learn"

In a nutshell I am surprised this particular umpire association did not take umbrage with We have to have three officials to get that call correct.

Hey fellows hate to break it to you but in this climate you are NOT getting 3 so take a refresher coarse on the 2 person mechanics.

Pete Booth

[justanotherblue]

Do I believe this is spontaneous, no way, it most likely is a taught play on part of the coaching staff. As Peter mentioned, the coaching staff noticed either before or most likely during the game that the HP umpire wasn't watching the touches at 3B. I also agree, should have been seen by the crew, they booted it, hopefully, they'll get it next time. It would be my guess the only reason the coaching staff said it wouldn't happen again is his parents complained about the cheating tactics he's teaching their kids.

[celebur]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

I also agree, should have been seen by the crew, they booted it, hopefully, they'll get it next time. It would be my guess the only reason the coaching staff said it wouldn't happen again is his parents complained about the cheating tactics he's teaching their kids.

Or it could be the coach is trying to lull the officials. If he gains a rep for using this, then the officials would likely be more diligent in looking for it.

[DG]

[QUOTE=PeteBooth;672628]

Originally Posted by tarheelcoach

Hey fellows hate to break it to you but in this climate you are NOT getting 3 so take a refresher coarse on the 2 person mechanics.

Pete Booth

Easy to get 3, if they will just agree to 2/3 normal 2 man pay or each in a 3 man crew. I'm sure the schools would go for that. I expect umpires would never make that comment again, if they thought this might happen.

[Rich]

[quote=DG;672959]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Easy to get 3, if they will just agree to 2/3 normal 2 man pay or each in a 3 man crew. I'm sure the schools would go for that. I expect umpires would never make that comment again, if they thought this might happen.

They would happily pay 2/3 pay and then tell the officials they don't need 3 and pocket the extra third.

[piaa_ump]

I had a coach in my area that was notorius for doing this..........he had an awesome speedster who seemed to get on base all the time......he would get on, then steal second and invaribily he would bunt the next guy and he had the runner cut third by a mile......

I wont claim I was the first one to catch him at it, but I did catch him once.....I was glancing at the runner as he cut third.........defense appealed and I rang up the out...

we now use the situation in clinic, and ask the HP umpire if the runner touched third...